I remember thinking some time ago about the word "tension." Most of the time tension has a negative connotation for us. We often associate it with relationships, and the unease created by certain situations or conversations in those relationships. But, there are in fact times when we should be thankful for tension. I've never been in San Francisco, but I've seen pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge. I imagine the people driving their cars over the Golden Gate Bridge are, if they thought about it, glad for tension - it's tension that keeps them out of the water.
I'm overwhelmed at times with the sense of tension in which God calls his followers to live. I've been thinking about one of those tension areas recently and I'd like to take a few minutes to explore it. Increasingly I feel at odds with the highly individualized version of Christianity that gets center stage in Christian circles. By that I mean the kind of theology that treats Jesus more like a personal mascot than a devouring, less than tame, lion. The kind of thinking about Jesus that leaves us with a lot of ourselves still intact, as if Jesus had nothing better to do with us than just get us into heaven when we die.
So I'm uncomfortable with that very narrow, microscopic view of Christianity. At the same time, I feel out of place in a Christianity that seems to want mass production of all things. Everything is an enterprise - certainly you must have read "(insert latest Christian bestseller here)", or surely you must watch "(insert greatest Christian Superstar here)". I'm tired of large scale standardization, where Christian disciples by and large look the same, talk the same, act the same and
are, essentially, the same.
Is it then possible to have discipleship that leaves us less
individualized, but at the same time more
personalized? In following Jesus, I think we need less and less of the individuality that borders on self-worship. Often expressing one's individuality is a nice way of telling others where to jump off. An individualized form of discipleship makes all kinds of demands of Jesus as to what he will do with us (and of course, what he won't do as well). It places us squarely at the center of our own universe, and sees the ultimate goal of our lives as our own salvation.
What ever happened to Paul's statement about his Jewish brothers that he would rather himself be accursed than that the rest of his fellow Israelites be cut off from salvation? How many of us would have the courage to make such a statement? How many of us would mean it?
At the same time, I would love to see men and women be in the process of having their personality redeemed and expressed in Christian discipleship. I don't want Jesus to make Peter into John, nor yet Paul into Barnabas. I want Jesus to do exactly what he did with each of those men with us today - shape the raw material present into its highest and best form possible. I would hate to think that the best thing we can give the world is Christianized cloning, surely the God who created us all unique can re-create us that way too?
I thought of it this way. Suppose I had a little more money than I do. Suppose also that I had been invited to this very fancy, very high class event where only the best and brightest would be assembled. I could go rent a black tuxedo, and put on the black bow-tie and the black wingtips. Or I could go find a really good tailor, one who really knows what he's doing. I could go to the tailor and ask him if he could make me a tailored suit, custom fitted for my (albeit rather lumpy) body.
Said tailor would take some time with me. He'd measure my neck, my shoulders, my chest and waist. He'd measure my arms and the length of my legs. Then he would begin to craft the suit that looks best for me, the one that fits me just right. Rather than walking the red carpet in imitation of a thousand other standardized suits, I would arrive in something tailor made, custom fit, personal. It would be personal in the sense that it had been made for me, but also in the sense that it would bear the mark of the fine tailor who made it.
If you've ever seen any of these fashion review shows of the Oscars or Grammys or whatever (I have been forced by my wife to watch one or two) you find the commentators discussing not just the actors and actresses, but also the names of the designers are prominently displayed. "So and so is wearing _____________."
That's what I'd like to see for Christian discipleship. The kind of tailor made approach that takes into account the one being fitted, and that ultimately brings a whole lot of glory to the master craftsman who takes the time to find just the right fit for each one he outfits.
